Flames select Martin Pospisil at 105th overall

After a long, long wait – the longest in franchise history – the Calgary Flames have made their first selection at the 2018 NHL Draft. With their fourth round selection, 105th overall, they have drafted right winger Martin Pospisil of the United States Hockey League’s Sioux City Musketeers.

Originally from Zvolen, Slovakia, he’s a November 1999 birthday and a 6’2″, 172 pound left shot forward. He came over to North America this past season and had eight goals and 29 assists over 49 USHL games. He’s committed to St. Lawrence University in the fall.

For you conspiracy theorists out there, Sioux City head coach Luke Strand (a) used to be an assistant coach in Abbotsford for two seasons and (b) was a Flames amateur scout following the USHL in 2016-17 before being hired as their head coach.

A lanky forward, he is a fun player to watch due to his unpredictability. Anything can happen when the Slovak is on the ice. Plays with emotion and passion and compete. He is an interesting prospect, and he’s somewhat flying under the radar.

He was ranked 131st among North American skaters by Central Scouting and 154th by Future Considerations. Hockey Prospect had him at 111th, noting that he could be a more effective player if he could rein in his rough-and-tumble style (253 penalty minutes last season). He seems like an energy player who could become an offensive contributor with a bit of time to develop, which he’ll get in college.

Burke left me a secret list before he left. All kidding aside, I kind of like this pick. Sounds like his give a crap meter is full and he can score. He also sounds like he can and will stick up for his team.

This goon won’t be helping the Flames anytime soon. An off the table swing like this one? 3-4 years in school with, who can really say how many years of developement in the minors? Maybe BT is counting on the NHL goon status changing back by then?